How sustainable rolling stock upgrades will drive net-zero for the rail industry

Virgin Hyperloop chief technology officer and co-founder Josh Giegel and director of passenger experience Sara Luchian

Ahead of COP26, Network Rail outlined four clear actions it was taking to reduce the impact of the UK rail industry on the environment. As part of this, the reduction of waste and the industry’s commitment to "reusing, repurposing or redeploying all surplus resources to embed circular economy thinking" was highlighted as fundamental to achieving net-zero.

To put it into additional context, the cost of a new train is typically in the region of £1.5m to £1.7m per car and with energy prices rising to unprecedented levels the cost is only likely to increase. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is likely to result in around 400 tonnes in C0₂e emissions for a 3-car unit.

Should the estimated 14,000 diesel trains currently in circulation be decommissioned and replaced with new rolling stock, a further five million tonnes of C0₂e emissions would be produced (compared to three million tonnes emitted for converting existing stock), undermining the industry’s zero emissions objective.

In comparison, upgrading or re-manufacturing existing rolling stock into battery or battery-hybrid equates to an all-round better value for money proposition, eliminating any surplus waste in both materials and energy – all while supporting the industry’s environmental targets; particularly when you consider a typical diesel train will emit a similar amount in carbon over a three-month period as that associated with converting existing rolling stock to battery power.

A recent and relevant example of this is the Class 321 ‘Renatus’ fleet, currently operating on the Greater Anglia network.

This proven and reliable fleet is an excellent fit in terms of characteristic, size, and availability for conversion to battery trains and on completion of the ‘upgrade’, the battery technology will be able to provide up to 20-30 miles of self-propulsion.

Although this is an electric train operating under the overhead wires the traction battery upgrade will allow operation on non-electrified or partial electrified routes thus reducing the reliance on diesel trains, reducing emissions, while improving air quality and delivering decarbonisation benefits to the local area.

The battery-powered upgrades to the Class 321 Renatus fleet is being led by Vivarail and Eversholt Rail and will not only be representative of the rolling stock upgrade process, but will also highlight the time, cost, and emission saving benefits over manufacturing new trains.

According to The Rail Industry Decarbonisation Task Force, rail is already considered a low carbon transport mode by accounting for just 1.4% of the UK’s domestic transport emissions.

However, as increasing numbers of drivers switch from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles (EVs), the spotlight is likely to shift onto rail emissions.

For the sector to both achieve and benefit from net-zero, it needs to commit to not only upgrading its existing rolling stock, but to also explore other ways in which it can drive the sustainability agenda.

While traction technology, such as that built by Vivarail, enables the quick and cost-effective conversion of diesel to battery-powered trains – it only solves part of the sustainability challenge.

For battery-powered trains to drive net-zero and achieve other targets, such as the creation of sustainable stations, rail operating companies need to also invest in innovative battery storage solutions, which not only have the power to recharge trains and quickly – but can also offer a green alternative for EV charging ports at train stations.

If implemented UK-wide, not only will the rail industry represent a truly sustainable and circular economy, but rail itself will also become a more attractive mode of transport to travellers looking to cut their own personal carbon footprint as the country edges closer to its wider net-zero deadlines.

The rail industry has experienced both significant change and challenges over the last few years, with a prime example being the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as the industry unites in the pledge to achieve net-zero by 2050 (at the very latest), it’s important to consider the quickest, most cost-effective and energy-efficient way of achieving this, while still delivering trains truly fit for the future.

Upgrading existing rolling stock with battery power not only achieves this but ensures the rail industry becomes a truly circular economy – committed to reusing and remanufacturing existing materials while creating the real opportunity for emission-free travel UK-wide.

To be able to achieve this ahead of the 2050 deadline would not only be magical, but vital. More importantly, it’s possible, but only if – to echo the words of David Clarke – we act today.